Gal Gadot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gal Gadot
גל גדות‎
Gadot in 2017
Born	(1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 40) Petah Tikva, Israel
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2004–present
Height	5'10" (178 cm)
Spouse(s)	Jaron Varsano ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	4
Beauty pageant titleholder
Agency	IMG Models ADD agency [he] Untitled Entertainment
Major competition(s)	Miss Israel 2004 (Winner) Miss Universe 2004 (Unplaced)
Military service
Allegiance	Israel
Service/branch	Israel Defense Forces
Years of service	2005–2007
Rank	Samal (Sergeant)
Signature

Gal Gadot (Hebrew: גל גדות‎, born 30 April 1985) is an actress from Israel. She is best known for playing the superhero Wonder Woman in movies like Wonder Woman (2017). Before becoming a famous actress, Gal won the Miss Israel beauty pageant in 2004.

After serving two years in the Israeli military, Gal started her acting career. Her first big role was as Gisele Yashar in the Fast & Furious movies, starting in 2009. Her role as Wonder Woman made her a global star. She has also appeared in other popular films like Red Notice (2021) and Heart of Stone (2023). Gal also runs a film production company with her husband.

Gal Gadot's Early Life and Education

Gal Gadot was born on April 30, 1985, in Petah Tikva, Israel. She grew up in the city of Rosh HaAyin. In Hebrew, her first name, Gal, means "wave," and her last name, Gadot, means "riverbanks." Her father, Michael, is an engineer, and her mother, Irit, is a physical education teacher.

Gal has a younger sister named Dana. She grew up in a "very Jewish, Israeli family" and is of Ashkenazi Jewish background. Her grandparents were born in Europe. Her grandfather survived the Holocaust after being held in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Her grandmother escaped Europe before World War II began.

Growing Up and First Jobs

As a child, Gal learned and danced jazz and hip-hop for 12 years. Her first jobs were working at a local Burger King and babysitting. She went to Begin High School in Rosh HaAyin, where she studied biology.

When she was in high school, Gal visited Poland to see Holocaust memorial sites like Auschwitz and Majdanek. This experience deeply affected her. She said it made her feel more grown-up and helped her understand the suffering of others.

Miss Israel and Military Service

At age 18, Gal entered the Miss Israel beauty pageant. She thought it would be a fun experience and didn't expect to win. But she did! She then represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant.

At age 20, Gal joined the Israel Defense Forces for her mandatory two years of military service. She worked as a combat fitness instructor, teaching soldiers gymnastics and calisthenics. She also practiced Krav Maga, a special martial art used by Israel's military. Gal has said her military background helped her get acting roles later on. After her military service, she studied law at IDC Herzliya in Israel.

Gal Gadot's Acting Career Journey

Early Roles and Fast & Furious (2008–2012)

After her first year of law school, a casting director saw Gal's modeling photo. This led her to audition for a role in a James Bond film. She didn't get that part, but the experience made her interested in acting. Soon after, she made her acting debut in the 2007 Israeli TV show Bubot.

A few months later, the same casting director called her for the movie Fast & Furious. Gal was chosen to play Gisele Yashar in the fourth film of the series. She believes her military training helped her get the role because the director liked her knowledge of weapons. She returned as Gisele in Fast Five (2011) and Fast & Furious 6 (2013).

Gal also had small roles in other movies like Date Night (2010) and Knight and Day (2010). She also appeared in TV shows like Entourage and The Beautiful Life: TBL.

Becoming Wonder Woman (2013–2016)

Gadot at the Fast & Furious 6 premiere in City Walk.

In 2013, news spread that Gal was being considered for the role of Wonder Woman. In December 2013, it was confirmed that she would play the iconic superhero in Batman v Superman. This was a huge moment because it was Wonder Woman's first appearance in a major film.

Gal trained hard for the role, learning swordsmanship, Kung Fu, kickboxing, capoeira, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She wanted to be strong and ready for the action scenes. She signed a deal to appear as Wonder Woman in three movies.

Gadot speaking at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2014 for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

In 2016, Gal debuted as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her performance was highly praised by critics and audiences. Many said she brought strength and grace to the character. This role quickly became a defining part of her career. That same year, she also appeared in the films Triple 9, Criminal, and Keeping Up with the Joneses.

Solo Wonder Woman Films and Producing (2017–2020)

Cast of Wonder Woman at the Los Angeles premiere, from left to right: Danny Huston, Chris Pine, Gadot, director Patty Jenkins, Elena Anaya, and Robin Wright.

In 2017, Gal starred in her own solo film, Wonder Woman. The movie was a big success and received very positive reviews. People loved the story, the action, and the chemistry between Gal and her co-star Chris Pine. Because of her past military service, the film was banned in some Middle Eastern countries.

She played Wonder Woman again in Justice League (2017). In 2018, Gal became a global ambassador for Revlon's "Live Boldly" campaign, encouraging women to be strong and optimistic. She also appeared in the music video for Maroon 5's song "Girls Like You".

In 2019, Gal and her husband, Jaron Varsano, started their own film and TV production company called Pilot Wave. Gal said she wanted to be in control of her own projects. In 2021, they produced a documentary series called Impact with Gal Gadot, which showed young women making positive changes in their communities.

Gal returned as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). The movie was released in theaters and on streaming services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Projects (2021–Present)

In 2021, Gal starred with Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix action-comedy film Red Notice. The movie was very popular on Netflix. The next year, she appeared in the mystery film Death on the Nile. This film was also banned in some countries due to protests related to Gal's Israeli military service.

In 2023, Gal made surprise appearances as Wonder Woman in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. She also had a cameo in Fast X, returning to the Fast & Furious series. Later that year, she starred in the Netflix action film Heart of Stone, where she played a secret agent.

Gal will next play the Evil Queen in a live-action movie of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She will also appear in the drama film In the Hand of Dante.

Advocacy and Support

Gal Gadot believes in women's empowerment and identifies as a feminist. In 2016, she joined other Wonder Woman stars and UN officials to celebrate Wonder Woman's 75th anniversary. The character was named an "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls" by the United Nations. This was to help raise awareness for gender equality.

In 2018, Gal attended the Golden Globes wearing black to support the Time's Up movement, which fights against harassment. She also visited children at a hospital dressed as Wonder Woman, bringing smiles to their faces. In 2023, she hosted a special event at her home for Holocaust survivors, where they shared their stories.

Support for Israel

Gal Gadot is a strong supporter of the Israeli military. She feels it's her duty as a public figure to speak up for Israel. This stance has brought her both support and criticism.

During a conflict in 2021, Gal called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In 2023, she joined over 700 other Hollywood professionals in signing a letter condemning the group Hamas and asking for the release of hostages held in Gaza. She also helped organize a screening of an Israeli film showing the violence of Hamas.

Personal Life

Gal Gadot is a big fan of martial arts. She has a black belt in both karate and Krav Maga. In 2008, Gal married Jaron "Yaron" Varsano, who is a real estate developer. They live in Tel Aviv, Israel, and have four daughters, born in 2011, 2017, 2021, and 2024.

Gal and Jaron used to own a boutique hotel in Tel Aviv, which they later sold. In 2021, they launched Goodles, a mac and cheese brand that aims to be a healthier option.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2009	Fast & Furious	Gisele Yashar
2010	Date Night	Natanya
	Knight and Day	Naomi
2011	Fast Five	Gisele
2013	Fast & Furious 6
2014	Kicking Out Shoshana	Mirit Ben Hatush
2015	Furious 7	Gisele	Credited and appears in a deleted scene
2016	Triple 9	Elena Vlaslov
	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Criminal	Jill Pope
	Keeping Up with the Joneses	Natalie Jones
2017	Wonder Woman	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Justice League
2018	Ralph Breaks the Internet	Shank	Voice role
2019	Between Two Ferns: The Movie	Herself	Cameo
2020	Wonder Woman 1984	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman	Also producer
2021	Zack Snyder's Justice League		Director's cut
	Red Notice	Sarah Black/ The Bishop
2022	Death on the Nile	Linnet Ridgeway
2023	Fast X	Gisele	Uncredited appearance in a post-credits scene
	Shazam! Fury of the Gods	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	The Flash		Uncredited appearance
	Heart of Stone	Rachel Stone	Also producer
2025	Snow White	Evil Queen	Post-production
TBA	In the Hand of Dante	Giulietta Tosches/ Gemma Donati

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Gal Gadot para niños

• Israeli fashion
• Women in Israel
• Women in the Israel Defense Forces
• List of Israelis